Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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FLEXIBLE CONDUIT TUBING SYSTE~N! WITHIN DISPENSER
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the invention.
The present invention relates to conduit tubing within a
fluid dispenser, and in particular, f:Lexible conduit tubing
used within a fuel,dispenser far separately housing wiring and
supplying fuel.
2. Description of the related art.
Conventional fuel dispensers are composed of various
components. A typical dispenser contains a fuel supply, a
fuel meter, a display, a dispenser hose and a nozzle.
zo Fuel enters the dispenser from tlae fuel supply. The fuel
is delivered to the fuel meter for measuring the quantity of
fuel to be dispensed. Then, the fuel continues on to the
dispenser hose and out through the nozzle. Electrical wiring
runs between the meter and the display which displays the
quantity of fuel. being dispensed. Further, electrical wiring.
may run through the dispenser to a fuel pump associated with
the fuel supply.
Typical fuel dispensers contain conduit through which
wiring and fuel run. The conduit travels between the various
components within the fuel dispenser such as the fuel meter,
display, fuel supply lines, and dispenser hose. It is
necessary for the conduit, which hou:~es the wiring, to prevent
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fluid and fuel vapor from contacting t:he wiring. Currently,
conduit tubing is composed of copper and steel tubing.
There are several disadvantages of using copper and steel
conduit tubing. The first problem with copper and steel
conduit is that individual pieces of conduit tubing need to be
cut to size and fit precisely. The need for precision is a
direct consequence. of.the material being rigid and not -
flexible.
A second consequence of the current copper and steel
conduit composition is the complexity of conduit installation
within the dispenser. Conduit within a dispenser is eustom-
fit for each specific use, e.g. conduit running between the
fuel meter and the display. A piece of conduit tubing is cut
to specific lengths and is individually shaped to fit within
the dispenser. In addition, separate pieces of conduit tubing
are permanently joined together to form a single, continuous
piece of conduit.
A third consequence of the presE~nt copper and s~teelw -
conduit composition is the obsolescence of the previously cut
and formed conduit tubing. Since ea<:h piece of conduit is
custom-fit, if one needs to replace a piece or section of
conduit, wishes to change the conduits pathway, or change the
dispenser shape, new pieces of conduit tubing would need to be
cut and shaped to fit within the dispenser.
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SUMMARY OF THE INV~1TION
According to the present invention, flexible conduit
tubing is used within a fuel dispenser. The conduit
separately houses wiring and supplies fuel during the
operation of the dispenser.
The invention, in one form thereof, includes a dispenser
cabinet in which flexible conduit is used. and dispqsed,. In a
further embodiment, separate paths of flexible conduit house
wiring and transmit fuel.
In another embodiment, a fitting means attaches two
segments of flexible conduit to one another. In a further
embodiment, a quick-connect means removably connects two
segments of flexible conduit such that= the two segments can be
disconnect from one another and re-connected to a third
segment of flexible conduit tubing: In a particular
embodiment, this quick-connect means :includes a fitting
located at the junction of the two segments of flexible
conduit cubing. . The quick-connect means permits one segment
of flexible conduit tubing to be quickly and easy connected,
disconnected, and re-connected to a second segment of flexible
conduit tubing to be quickly and easily connected and
disconnected to various components within the dispenser
including, for example, a meter, a display, and a fuel supply.
In yet another embodiment, the invention contains a
segment of flexible conduit tubing which houses wiring for the
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. dispenser. In one particular embodiment, a wiring connector
means is used for establishing electrical conductivity between
the wiring housed within the segment of conduit and the wiring
within another segment of conduit or ether dispenser
component. In one particular embodiment, the conduit
connection is vapor and fluid proof.
In a further-embcd.iment, the flexible conduit tubing
attaches to various dispenser components such as a meter or
display.' Electrical continuity is established between the
flexible conduit tubing and the component when the flexible
conduit and the component are joined. In one particular
embodiment, the conduit connection is vapor and fluid proof.
An advantage of the present invention is the ease of
installation of pieces of flexible conduit tubing within a
fuel dispenser. The flexibility of the conduit allows for
minor variations in the length and shape of the conduit tubing
used throughout the dispenser. Consecxuently, the conduit
length -and shape does not need to be ~raade as precisely as with
traditional, rigid conduit.
In addition, an advantage of the present invention is the
ability to change the shape of a dispenser housing without
having to replace the conduit tubing Enclosed. The flexible
conduit can be disconnected, reconnected, bent, and extended
to accommodate the new housing.
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An additional advantage of the prE=sent invention is the
use of the same flexible conduit tubing across varying
dispenser designs or platforms. Standardized lengths of
flexible conduit tubing can be joined together and shaped to
form a continuous segment of flexible conduit as required for
placement in varying dispenser designs.
Another. advantage of one embodime:na of the present
invention is the simplicity of connecting conduit tubing
segments' together to form a single, continuous piece of
conduit. This invention, in one embodiment, uses quick-
connect means for easy connection and disconnection of
segments from one another. The length and shape of the
conduit is easily altered by adding and subtracting varying
length and shape conduit tubing, as well as, bending and
extending the flexible conduit tubing to alter the flexible
conduit's length and shape.
A further advantage of one embod_'Lment of the invention is
the ability of re-use conduit. T,lnlike, traditional .conduit,
in which segments are permanently joined together, this
invention uses fittings at the ends of the conduit segments
for easy connection and disconnection.
An additional advantage of one particular embodiment, is
the construction of electrically continuous conduit by simply
connecting individual segments of conduit tubing together.
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In a broad aspect, then, the present invention relates
to an apparatus for dispensing fuel, comprising: a dispenser
cabinet having a first dispenser component and a second
dispenser component fixedly disposed therein; and a flexible
conduit fixedly disposed between said first dispenser
component and said second dispenser component, said flexible
conduit located within said dispenser cabinet while not
extending outside of said dispenser cabinet, said flexible
conduit providing communication between said first dispenser
component and said second dispenser component.
In another broad aspect, then, the present invention
relates to an apparatus for dispensing fuel, comprising: a
dispenser cabinet having at least one dispenser component
disposed within; a wiring, said wiring having at least two
conductors; and a flexible conduit communicatively attached
to said at least one dispenser component and located within
said dispenser cabinet; said conduit housing said wiring and
carrying the fuel such that said wiring and the fuel are
maintained separate; and said flexible conduit not extending
outside of said dispensing cabinet.
In a further broad aspect, then, the present invention
relates to a flexible conduit connection system for use
within a fuel dispenser, comprising: a fuel dispenser; a
first dispenser component housed within said fuel dispenser;
a first segment of flexible conduit, said first segment of
flexible conduit having two ends, both ends being housed
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within said fuel dispenser while not extending outside of
said fuel dispenser; and a first quick-connect means for
removably connecting said first segment of flexible conduit
to said first dispenser component.
5b
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of
this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become
more apparent and the invention will be better understood by
reference to the following description of an embodiment of the
invention taken iri conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
wherein:
Fig. 1 is a diagram of a cross-sectional view of a fuel
dispenser;
Fig. 2 is a diagram of cross-sectional view of flexible
conduit; and
Fig. 3 is a is a diagram of a flexible conduit fitting.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding
parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set
out herein illustrates one preferred embodiment of the
invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be
construed as limiting the scope of th.e invention in any
manx~.er . - _ .
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIQN
Referring now to the drawings anal particularly to Fig. 1,
there is shown a cross-sectional, front view of a conventional
fuel dispenser with the addition of the present invention. In
accordance with the present invention, dispenser cabinet 44
houses various dispenser components of dispenser 36. Such
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dispenser components include flexible conduit 12, 24, 25, 26,
28, 30, 32, 33, 42, meter 14, fuel supply 10 and display 34.
Flexible conduit 12; 24, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 42 is
composed of material which allows it to flex from a
substantially linear configuration, such as flexible conduit
l2~to a bent configuration, such as flexible conduit 32, 42.
Flexible conduit 12, 24, 2-5, 26, 28, 3~0, 32, 33; 42 a;s w
composed of petroleum resistant material, for example nylon,
and is fiuid proof and vapor proof. Flexible conduit 12, 24,
25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 33, 42 can be composed of other material
which provides for fluid and vapor proof conduit. Other
material include but are not limited to polypropylene,
polyethylene, nylon composite.
Individual flexible conduit segments are joined together
by quick-connection means. The quick-connection means permits
a segment of flexible conduit to be removably connected to
another segment of flexible conduit or other dispenser
component. For-example, the quick-connect means includes
fitting 11 which removably connects f7_exible conduit 12 to
meter 14. Alternately, the conduit segments may be joined by
threading, compression fitting, or snap-fit insertion.
Flexible conduit 12 supplies fuel from fuel supply 10 to
fuel meter 14. Meter 14 measures the quantity of fuel
delivered. Fitting 11 contains sealing nut 40 and compression
gland 38. (best shown in Fig. 3) . Fii~ting 11 is composed of a
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petroleum resistant material such as nylon and contains
compression gland 38 composed of a chemically resistant
material, such as TPE. Fitting 11 may also be formed of
polypropylene, polyethylene, and nylon composites. Fitting 11
fits over the end of conduit 12. Tightening sealing nut 40 on
'
compression gland 38 provides a fuel vapor and fluid tight
connection. Fitting -11 permits. conduit 12 to be disconnected
from supply 10 and meter 14.
w Flexible conduit'26 supplies fuel from meter 14 to right-
so angle conduit 16. Right-angle conduit 16 is a substantially
rigid segment of conduit which connecas flexible conduit 26 to
flexible conduit 28. Fittings 11 joins right-angle conduit 16
to flexible conduit 26 and flexible conduit 28.
Flexible conduit 32 connects flexible conduit 28 to
flexible conduit 30. Flexible conduit 30 attaches to flexible
conduit 33 which, in turn, is connected to dispenser hose 18.
Dispenser hose 18 supplies fuel to nozzle 20.
In another embodiment of this invention,-a flexible
wiring conduit 22 is flexible condui~-~ which houses wiring 25
for the operation of dispenser 36. Fittings 11 located on the
ends of conduit 22 is connected to meter l4 and wiring conduit
42. Fitting 11 provides a vapor and fluid proof connection.
Wiring conduit 22 is attached to wiring conduit 42. Flexible
conduit 42 joins wiring conduit 22 t~o wiring conduit 24.
Wiring conduit 24 is connected to display 34. Display 34
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receives signals from meter Z4 and displays the fuel quantity
being dispensed.
Fig. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a piece of conduit
housing wiring for a fuel dispenser. Wiring conduit 22 also
contains wiring conduit connector 23 <~.t its ends. Wiring
conduit connector 23 provides electrical continuity between
wiring 25 of conduit~22 and meter 14.. Similarly,- wiring
conduit connector 23 provide electrical continuity between
wiring ~5 of conduit 23 and wiring 25 of flexible connector
42. In addition, wiring conduit can be used to house
dispenser wiring 25 connected to other dispenser components,
e.g, a fuel pump.
While this invention has been described as having a
preferred design, the present invention can be further
modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This
application is therefore, intended to cover any variations,
uses, or adaptations of the invention. using its general
prinaiples.~ Further, this application is intended to cover
such departures from the present disclosure as come within
2~ known or customary practice in the art to which this invention
pertains and which fall within the 19~_mits of the appended
claims.
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